Posted by By OLUWATOYOSI OGUNSEYE on
They came out of jail in November. Now, they are on the way back there
Some prisoners who were released last year in the hope that they would start a new life in 2005 have chosen to become more dangerous to the society. As soon as they left the prisons, the ex-convicts formed a gang and unleashed terror on residents of a community in the Agege area of Lagos.
The eight-man gang had in a commando style invaded a house under the swooning effect of the New year festivities, carting away properties and a red Toyota Camry car. Members of the gang were named as: Yomi Odetola, Bolaji, Iginlane, Aro, Seyi Bolaji Odeniyi, Jimoh and Samson.
According to the police, the boys entered the house and attacked the residents, who were in a celebration mood, being the first day of the year. They were able to gain entry into the compound because someone had opened the gate to drive out, so they seized the opportunity to enter. They seized the head of the family at gunpoint collected all their possessions and demanded for the keys to the car.
"Unfortunately for them, we got a tip-off about the members of the gang. Following the lead, we swooped on the gang and arrested Yemi Odetola and Bolaji Odeniyi. The rest are still at large," say the police.
Yomi Odetola, who keeps arms for the gang denied going on the operation with them. He said: "I never followed them. They did not even tell me that they were going for an operation. It was when Aro came to keep the car in my house that I knew what they had been up to. The last operation that I went for was last week. We collected MTN recharge cards worth thousands of Naira from a dealer".
Odeniyi who had just been released after serving a term at the Ikoyi Prisons said that he joined the gang two weeks ago.
"I had spent two years at the Ikoyi prisons for robbery. I was not guilty the first time, but I am guilty now. I met my gang members in the prison. We were all ex-convicts that were released in November. Immediately we entered the house, each of us took what we could lay our hands on. When we left, we called Igilani to come and pick the car at Egbeda. Igilani drove the car to Yomi's house. Aro is the owner of the gun."
As investigations continue, the police are on the trail of the runaway members of the gang.